This document provides guidance on developing networking skills to help with career exploration and job searching. It defines networking as exchanging information and contacts with others for professional purposes. Networking can help generate career ideas, provide insider information about jobs and industries, and access the hidden job market. Both online and in-person networking are discussed, with tips for attending events, introducing yourself, asking questions, and following up on contacts. Maintaining networks over time through follow ups and offering assistance is also recommended.

1. Develop your Networking Skills

2. What is Networking?
“ It’s not what you know,
but who you know
and
who knows you that matters! ”
• Networking can help you in
every stage of your career
exploration

3. Networking
•“a group of people who exchange information, contacts and
experience for professional or social purposes”
(oxford dictionary)
• Many jobs aren’t advertised. The more people you know in a key
areas, the more likely you are to hear about jobs.
• People are your best source of information and people know other
people who may be able to help you!

4. Networking can help you to…
• Generate careers ideas
• Find out about jobs you’ve not considered
• Find out what a job is really like – ‘insider information’
• Ask how your skills and interests fit those of the job
• Explore the hidden job market- where jobs aren’t advertised
• Opportunity to ask for work experience

5. Unsure about networking, remember…!
• You have probably already used networking skills (finding
work experience/ part time work)
• Most people are flattered to be asked for advice
• There are many established networks that you can use
• It never hurts to ask someone (tactfully) for help - they can
always say no!
• Many people establish successful careers using their
networks

6. Face to face networking…
Working the room……

7. Face to face networking
• Set objectives that you want to achieve at the event!
• Who do you want to meet and why?
• Starting conversations- “Do you mind if I join you?”
• Introduce yourself, shake hands!
• Think what information are you looking for?
“How did you get into your industry?”
Start with small talk and work up to what you are looking
for
• Ask good questions & Listen a lot!! ….. be interested!
• Don’t overstay your welcome!
• Follow up the contacts that you have made!

8. Networking for ‘Make it Happen’
• Look at the list of speakers before attending the event & think about who
you want to talk to
• Research their organisation
• Read their biographies if you can (hand-outs at the event)
• Think about the questions you want to ask them
• Interesting selection of Careers information interviewing questions here:
www.quintcareers.com/informational_interviewing.html
• Think of 2 or 3 well selected questions to ask speaker
• Remember that lots of people want to talk to our speakers too!

9. Creative Approaches- finding contacts
Contacts you already have
• Friends, family, friends of friends .
• Academics
• Contacts from past work experience, vacation work
Contacts you need to find
•Vacancies advertised in newspapers and on the web.
•Use the contact details from the vacancy advert.
•Names in journals, magazines, reports, the press.
•The phone book and Yellow Pages (www.yell.com )
•Specialist directories and lists of companies
•Linked in – Search facility

10. Online Networks
A professional looking online presence can help you to make contact
with people in the sector you are interested in
Examples of your creativity on web pages, blogs, online videos are
important in media/ creative industries

12. How to Make Contact?
Letter/email
• Cover letter, outlining why you are interested in
gaining experience, plus a targeted CV
• You have control over the information you give
the employer
• Gives the employer time to think about what they
can offer you
• Good to follow up with a telephone call.
Phone call
• An initial phone call has immediacy but can put
you (and the employer) on the spot!
• If you ring, think about what you want to say first!
• Stay calm and collected articulate your message
with clarity!

13. Look after your network
• Follow up and keep in touch
• Say “Thank you!”
• Share good news!
• Offer to help others

14. Support we offer:
• Careers and Employability Centre - Ground Floor Library
• Talk through your ideas with a careers adviser 1:1
• Attend an Event - Employer Presentations / Job Fair
• Use our website - www.sussex.ac.uk/careers